GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN (Sputnik) — The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries consider that Russia's return to the group is currently impossible, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday on the sidelines of G7 summit in Bavaria.
The G7, comprising Germany, the United States, France, Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan are holding an annual meeting on June 7-8 in Bavaria’s Schloss Elmau hotel. Russia is not attending the event as its participation in the group’s meetings was suspended in March 2014 over reunification with Crimea and Ukraine conflict.
"From our [G7] current point of view, Russia's return [to the group] is unrealistic," Merlel told German ARD television channel, adding that this position is shared by all the members of G7 states.
The chancellor underscored that G7 share common values and in case with Crimea and Donbass, "Russia has displayed that the views differ."
Merkel noted, there is a range of formats, in which cooperation with Moscow continues, including on discussing the deal on Iranian nuclear program and peace process in Syria.
The EU leaders agreed in March 2015 that portions of anti-Russia sanctions, which expire in July, will stay in place if the peace agreement reached in February in Minsk, stipulating ceasefire and heavy weaponry pull-out from the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, would not be fully implemented.
In an interview with the German ZDF television channel Merkel noted that western countries' anti-Russia sanctions will be lifted if the Minsk agreements on Ukraine reconciliation are fully implemented.
"We have always said that there is a connection between the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the extension of sanctions with the possibility of withdrawing them. This means that if the Minsk [agreements] are implemented, the sanctions imposed in connection with Lugansk and Donetsk [eastern Ukraine's breakaway regions] and shooting at MH17 will be lifted," said German Chancellor.
Following the deadly crash of Malaysia Airlines MH17 over Ukraine in July, the United States and the European Union imposed new sanctions against Russia, which they believe to be responsible for the tragedy.
Moscow has repeatedly denied these allegations saying it never interfered with the Ukrainian internal affairs and stressed that the sanctions policy was unacceptable and counterproductive.
Merkel also noted that the lifting of anti-Russia sanctions depended not only on Moscow, but on Kiev's policy as well.
The Ukraine crisis settlement is high on the agenda of the summit.
Several days prior to the G7 talks, reports emerged about Kiev forces offensive in the town of Marinka just outside the Donetsk in eastern Ukraine that left at least 21 dead and over 120 others injured, according to Donetsk militia.
The final decision on prolongation of EU sanctions against Russia is expected to be announced during the June 25-26 EU summit.
